|
| Toyota Thailand funds jatropha research |
|
|
| Monday, 17 July 2006 | |
|
Toyota Group and PTT Plc will fund research at Kasetsart University to find new raw material for biodiesel, focusing on seed selection and cultivation of Jatropha Curcas.
Toyota Motor Thailand Co Ltd, Toyota Technical Centre Asia Pacific (Thailand) Co Ltd and PTT Plc signed a memorandum of understanding with Kasetsart University Friday on a "Collaborative and Development Project on Jatropha Biodiesel for Diesel Vehicles".
The firms will give the university financial support of USD $865,000, USD $393,000 from Toyota and USD $472,000 from PTT.
Currently, palm oil is the main raw material for biodiesel, but there is increasing interest in Jatropha Curcas as an alternative source of feedstock since it does not have alternative uses in the human foodchain, grows rapidly, is tolerant of poor soil and drought conditions and contains 80 per cent unsaturated fat.
Toyota president Ryoichi Sasaki said his company would produce more vehicles with engines suitable for biodiesel if the research succeeded.
PTT executive vice president Chalermsak Juntaro said his company had put up USD $472,000 to evaluate the performance of various engine systems.
PTT will supply lubricants and necessary parts from its research laboratory as well as technology and experience.
PTT is building a new biodiesel plant which will open in the third quarter of next year at a production capacity of 600,000 litres a day.
The research project will focus on jatropha because it is expected that palm oil prices will increase rapidly once the 40 biodiesel plants currently under construction in the region come on line.
The research objective is to study jatropha seeds to determine the species which best suits the local climate and is resistant to pests and disease.
If this is successful, Chalermsak said, jatropha will become an economic crop reducing oil imports and encouraging higher consumption of domestic fuel, which will lead to employment growth and sustainable development.
David Smith, Singapore
|
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|
